Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Friday, June 01, 2007
Your view: People from all walks of life get tattoos
In response to Tilman Simonson’s letter about why people get tattoos, you must ask someone who has tattoos to begin with.
I have seven. Many of us come from all walks of life and spiritual backgrounds. I work with children.
Many people get them to mark a milestone in life, or for artistic or spiritual reasons, as I did. I do not regret any of mine. I got them for the right reasons. The last one was a rose with my grandpa’s initials.
Tattoos are not for everyone. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. None of my tattoos hurt.
The artist who did five of mine was a friend, confidante and a remarkable artist who I would commission an original artwork from and was nothing but gentle. Talk to an artist and you will see that many of them are really intelligent, humble people with great talent.
You choose to put art on your walls; we choose our skin. Yes, there will always be the idiot who does it on a dare, but for every one of them there are people like me who do it for the right reasons.
My family does not all agree with tattoos, but they know I am a grown woman and it is not their choice.
They do not allow children in tattoo shops. I was 23 when I got my first one. I don’t regret it. I only regret that people have to be so judgmental on something they don’t possess themselves.
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